Dr Uprichard urged young people caught up in tensions in the town not to "allow yourself to be influenced by those who would persuade you that you are doing something macho".

"It doesn't have to be like this - there is something better for you. You live in a town which has so much to offer. You have a life which is full of so much potential," he said.

Vigils have been held at Michael McIlveen's family home

"Use that life wisely - don't waste it in a way that brings no benefit to yourself and may even bring harm to others."

He was accompanied on his visit by Catholic priest Fr Sean Connolly.

A book of condolence for the McIlveen family has been opened by Ballymena Council.

The town's DUP mayor, Tommy Nicholl, and a number of other councillors, have already signed the book.

Civic leaders, teachers, Sunday School teachers of all religions should tell young people very clearly and very carefully to stay out of gangs

James CurrieFormer Ballymena mayor

The former Presbyterian moderator, Dr John Dunlop, said more should be done to tackle sectarianism.

"We haven't recognised how widespread this problem is," he said.

"Some people think sectarianism is an infection that afflicts some people here and there. What I am saying is that sectarianism is an endemic infection which affects all of us across the whole society, Catholics and Protestants, and people in different social classes."

A former Ulster Unionist mayor of Ballymena has urged young people in the town not to get involved in sectarian gangs.

James Currie said on Friday that parents and teachers must get the message across about the consequences of sectarian violence.

"Civic leaders, teachers, Sunday School teachers of all religions should tell young people very clearly and very carefully to stay out of gangs and not get involved because you're destroying your whole future at 14, 15 or up to 19 or whatever it is," he said.

Michael was a pupil at St Patrick's College in Ballymena.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein cancelled planned hunger strike commemorations in Portglenone on Friday as a mark of respect for the family of the murdered teenager.